Altercation at Bingo over Avon

Altercation reported at bingo game Appears to have started over selling cosmetics

February 18, 2013 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — Two women got into a fight over the sale of beauty products during a game of bingo for seniors at Feaster Apartments on Friday, police said.

According to the public police log, Portsmouth officers responded to the community room at the senior living apartment building on Court Street at 2:06 p.m. after taking a report of "some pushing and shoving" due to a disagreement over the sale of Avon products.

Sgt. Kuffer Kaltenborn said the call came during a regularly scheduled bingo game for the seniors living at the facility. He said one woman was upset at another for setting up a table to sell her cosmetics during the game.

"The altercation appears to have been started over the fact that one resident was upsetting another by (selling Avon and disrupting) the scheduled bingo event that occurs," he said.

The police log indicates officers cleared the scene of the initial call, only to be called back two hours later by a person who "is insisting on pressing charges now."

According to the log, the alleged victim had marks on her arm.

Kaltenborn said officers are still investigating whether an assault actually occurred during the altercation.

Complicating matters is that a third party initially reported the assault, he said.

"A third party alleges that the one that wanted to sell her products grabbed the wrist of the other person who wanted to play bingo," he said. "It's not the victim that alleges the crime. ... She's not sure if she was assaulted or not."

The names of those involved were not released because no one has been charged with a crime.

Kaltenborn said anyone who may have witnessed the altercation should contact investigating officer Matthew Young at 610-7619.

7. from an interview of Kuffer

EMILY: Have you ever had to chase a perp on your bike?

KUFFER: It has not happened yet. I have waited for it to happen. I thought I was going to have to a couple years ago in Prescott Park. I arrested a young man for having marijuana on him, and he decided to run from me, basically, even after I had the handcuffs on him, but he ran out onto one of the fishing piers, where he soon realized his tragic, tactical error wasn't going to get him far.